# How often does opposite sex's look linger on you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 26, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128 "2011-11-26T05:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/1 "2011-11-26T05:45:03Z")
You are walking in the mall, on the street, or in a store, and you look at a person of the opposite sex approaching you. Sometimes, their look/stare lingers on you for a bit, and sometimes they look away immediately. Which one happens more frequently for you? ---
**Author:** ![DaveBfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DaveBfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaveBfd)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/2 "2011-11-26T05:50:31Z")
Generally if I look first they look away right when they look. If they are looking and I catch them they are more likely to keep looking a little longer. Ill pay more attention tomorrow :P. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/3 "2011-11-26T06:16:11Z")
Women rarely linger their looks on my likeness. Then again, I don’t pay too much attention so maybe I’m just missing it. That’s what I’ll tell myself anyway. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/4 "2011-11-26T13:27:11Z")
I usually live in my own little world, so I probably wouldn’t notice either way. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/5 "2011-11-26T13:34:28Z")
Long enough for the simpler neurons in the brain stem to discern if I am an animate or inanimate object. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/6 "2011-11-26T13:48:58Z")
What happens most often is they don’t even appear to see me. However, since I lost weight, it’s been happening with increasing frequency: about three or four times a day. That’s neither often nor rare though is it? I usually make eye contact back. ---
**Author:** ![Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e56c9b/32.png) [@Cap\_n\_Obvious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cap_n_Obvious)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/7 "2011-11-26T14:12:13Z")
I never notice when others are looking at me. Judging by how often I get bumped into, I often wonder if people can even see me, much less let their gaze linger on me. At least when I’m in the store or the mall. When I’m walking down the street is a different story. It isn’t unheard of for mothers to grab their children and run inside when I’m walking by their house. Pisses me off it does. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/8 "2011-11-26T14:25:48Z")
I’m female and in my late 40’s. I officially became invisible to the rest of the world about five years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/9 "2011-11-26T14:45:42Z")
> [@abbeytxs](#): > > I’m female and in my late 40’s. I officially became invisible to the rest of the world about five years ago. You don’t really know that, though. It might just be that men get less awkward with age. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/10 "2011-11-26T15:19:13Z")
I have no idea what you are talking about, lingering looks? of longing, lust, or lasciviousness? 😉 I once noticed a elderly handsome gent checking me out, caught me by surprise he did, made me smile as I never get that look anymore ( at least that i notice) ---
**Author:** ![Peeta\_Mellark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bc8723/32.png) [@Peeta\_Mellark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peeta_Mellark)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/11 "2011-11-26T15:27:56Z")
Since I’m primarily attracted to men, I don’t notice if women’s eyes are lingering on me or not. One time about two years ago I was out with my boyfriend at the time and we were being mildly affectionate. Some girl kept staring at us. Was it with lust? Jealousy? Disapproval? No clue. It made me really uncomfortable, though. ---
**Author:** ![nashiitashii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7c8e57/32.png) [@nashiitashii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nashiitashii)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/12 "2011-11-26T15:33:37Z")
It varies. If I make eye contact with a man, he’ll often get a sheepish look and immediately avert his gaze, but sometimes they’ll just continue staring. If I don’t bother with eye contact, the man usually doesn’t avert his gaze very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/13 "2011-11-26T15:39:14Z")
Guys check me out a lot. I can’t explain how but it’s easy to tell if someone is noticing me (as more than something not to bump into). Women give me the once-over plenty, as well. ---
**Author:** ![abbeytxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@abbeytxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abbeytxs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/14 "2011-11-26T16:12:33Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > You don’t really know that, though. It might just be that men get less awkward with age. I’m not worried about it, I’ve even been known to use it to my advantage occasionally. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/15 "2011-11-26T17:23:12Z")
Usually just long enough for them to decide between fight or flight (although once in a while some of them will try to eat me, and on one occasion in the late 90’s, a confused mating attempt was observed). ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/16 "2011-11-26T17:31:25Z")
I am pretty much invisible to women. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/17 "2011-11-26T17:32:16Z")
Other: The sound of laughter often lingers in my ears. ---
**Author:** ![Soliloquy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@Soliloquy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soliloquy)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/18 "2011-11-26T17:36:19Z")
I only pay attention to the lingering looks of one man, and I catch him staring all the time. He makes me self conscious and giddy all at once. I don’t give a rat’s tail who else looks. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/19 "2011-11-26T17:58:48Z")
'Course women’s eyes linger on me. I’m the train-wreck they can’t help but watch. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2011, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128/20 "2011-11-27T00:59:57Z")
I’m middle-aged, plain and fat. Nobody gives me a second look. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-opposite-sexs-look-linger-on-you/604128.md?page=2)